When life hurts, running heals

The title of this blog post suggests that this post may be a bit more of a deep read than you’re used to here on Fuel for Fridays…but it’s a phrase that really has held true for me and I want to talk about why in hopes that maybe some of you can relate. 

Running has always given me much more mentally than it ever has physically. The feeling you get after completing a hard effort is arguably one of the best feelings I’ve felt in life. 

The sense of accomplishment when you push through a painful part of a run and find yourself on the other side. The comfort that knowing I can endure painful and hard things has brought me a lot of peace in my life. Often when I’m going though something challenging in life, I remember those moments, where I’ve been in possibly the most physical pain I’ve ever been in or fought through the most convincing thoughts telling me to give up, yet I didn’t. Remembering that the same person that’s in those challenging moments of life has persevered through challenging moments in a run before brings me a lot of comfort and it’s a big reason why I run.

The second part of this is the more obvious; when life hurts, whether it’s a day full of anxiety, a breakup, receiving difficult or bad news, a decision I can’t make, a difficult conversation, or a bad day at work, going for a run has never failed to make me feel better. It’s the quiet time alone with my thoughts, or the opposite; a time to not think at all and know that for however many miles, I don’t have anywhere to be or anyone to answer to. It’s really the one time in life where I can put my phone on do not disturb and just be present with myself. The world kind of stops in those moments where you get to truly prioritize yourself and be in control of your body fully, mentally and physically. 

This idea that when life hurts, running heals really holds meaning to the name of my brand too. Run far, live free. Run and you’ll free yourself of many of life’s challenges.

Now I’ll admit, a lot of the time, running also hurts! But the benefits far outweigh the temporary pain (usually…unless it’s shin splits that might be debatable).

If you can’t relate to this specifically, I bet you have your “running” too. Everyone has the thing they go to that will, without fail, make you feel a little bit better on the days that life is tough, whether it’s the gym, yoga, reading a book, a new hobby, maybe it’s spending time with a specific person, or a combination, we all have our escapes from reality and if you haven’t found yours I suggest you give running a try.